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Tourist killings spark Kruger safety fears
The Mercury
|May 25, 2026
THE couple killed in Kruger National Park have been identified as Dina Marais, 73, and Ernst Marais, 71, from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.
The Kruger National Park is one of South Africa's premier tourist attractions, but recent killings have sparked safety concerns.
Limpopo police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths after their bodies were discovered in a river in the park on Friday, May 22.
Police spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that the couple had been reported missing after failing to return to their holiday accommodation as scheduled, triggering a large-scale search operation.
According to The Cape Times, the Marais couple had entered the park on Sunday, May 17, and were last seen alive on Wednesday morning at the Pafuri picnic site. Shortly after that sighting, communication with them ceased.
South African National Parks (SANParks) said a 24-hour search operation was launched on Thursday, involving ground teams and a helicopter unit. Despite extensive efforts, the breakthrough came when tourists later spotted the bodies floating in a nearby river.
This story is from the May 25, 2026 edition of The Mercury.
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